The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-17
nlSSlSSlfPl'S CURSE.
VIGOROUS OPINIONS OF C0UR.
A6EOUS NEWSPAPERS.
Tho Story OF the Ship Island Rail.
r0ad-Ihe Convict Lease
System.

H7.
Brookhaven Leader: This paper
spoke In q recen. issue OF Hamil.on's
great influence over men in high pc.
sitions and showed how he had been
able to obtain the signature OF q late
State official and Congressman to q
false certificate to pcrpertate 10 fraud
on ths public and carry out his de.
signs. Another illustration Of his DO.
tential Influence with the powers that
DO abou. the State house has lust
come to light.
1t will be remembered that Ham.
ilton, while In the Senate In 1884, sue
ceeded on the heel OF the session In
getting passed the act providing for a
conditional transfer of the psniten.
tisry lease to the Gulf and Ship Rail.
road Company OF which be was the
head, one Of those private schemes by
ths way. alluded to In the Spord
and Shield article for which lie ed.
itor was assassipsted. 1t was Hsttsr.
ingly set forth In the preamble TO said
act that "the Gulf and Ship Island
railroad, as prof ected, is an enterprise
In which the whole State Is interested,
~ the building Of said road would do
much toward developing o large sec
ton OF the State, thereby increasing
ita revenues and bring in practical
utility the splendid harbor ct Snip
Island" ETC., and the average lelisls.
tor, bnmful Of progressive ideSs about
internal improvements, etc, Jumped
at and voted for the measure like
npeckled trout swapping at a roach.
The principal feature Of the bill pro-
vided Tor the tn FER by the peniteL-
tiary lessees OF their lease to the said
"a d Gulf aud ship Island Railroad
Company on such terms as might be
mutually agreed upon (the Iessees
themselves being the principal part OF
the railroad company at that time)
and that upon the execution OF tuch
transfer and assignment, IN writing, and
Q copy thereof filed in the Office OF the
Secretary OF State. the said lessees or
their fs,'gns should be released from
ali liability thereafter 10 the State
OF Mississippi. On such trans
Ter being cousummated the State was
10 receive her pay In first mortgage
boIds OF the SAID railroad com pany,
and the lefse extend to 1891.
Now, such an assignment a. was
provided for in said act was made and
signed In 1884, BY the lsssees, and filed
In the flee VI he Secretary Of State.
40 the act required. Az will be seen,
tsls was Q most important paper, prob.
ably The most important to be fled in
that once In q year. On IL alone.
probably, depended the evidences A
70 the liability Of the parties, or the
question No TO who was liable for the
hire OF the convicts for the unex pired
term OF the old lease; but on the trial
ofthe demurrer In the suit against the
lessees aud their bondsmen now pend.
ing la the Kinds county Circuit Court,
IL 10 developed that after said psper
bad been 90 fed, Hamilton went and
got 1t out Of the Secretary Of States
ofhce aud took II sway. 81.
L is eaid Mr. Pdce Porter, Dsupty
Seer, tary OF State, Is the man who al. |
lowed him 10 take the paper, and tha, |
he claims 10 have done 90 on the ad. |
vice or ct the suggestion Of Gov.
Lowry.
Whist q commentary Here IA ons
Of the moet important papers In the |
Secretary States ONCE, given M 10 |
and carried Of by Hamilton, and with |
the connivance OF the highes, State
ofi isls at that VINO would have
supposed such thing could be dose9
Who could have done it bat Hsmil. |
ton, the boss OF the penitentiary ring. |
snd Who, We m ght say, IL the ooss Of |
the Sac government Who but
him would have had the cheek 10
ryit3
Hamilton's original purpose seems
TO have been about this: To get him.
cell and boBdsmen released from their
oblis .tion TO the state under the Old
lease; TO have the term OF the lease
ex ended several years; place q few
cd and disabled convicts on the pro.
posed Gulf and Snip Il and raj road 10
keep up q show Of good faith, hire all
the rot eat alta big profit to Do worked
on farms by euD-letseer, and psy the
State In the railr, com any's bonds.
worth little more than the paper thew
we're written on. HIS sub,eouent
.ou9u =. w mx'er stsP'alned by
, ~ ,'c c,, 'ns. ne Uncovered Tor the hrsi
.pu sSs, "a snnsnt ma been
Secretary 81 state (throush an opinion
OF the Attorney Gensr.l) that the
:, ,o,,ups ,'t ,ne uneipned lease
OF hsmlit9n q hosfin. to the Guli
snu snip issna railroad, made II OBJ
ss'o'y 70 ~ All me convicts on
az Ios,, when, o. course, put an
IVY W M" ps,ps nlto ont on iaIms;
.n - ne nsu never .asul.ted on
rs, ~ "sn.so .ne uade dsclafed
On snu oo,siped possession oil the
ssA'n In 'ne way We have
W. -, |
e mnan informed that at
an ume Vn IooA snort White sfer
tut sci NaH Ahf0l thf 'ffulf and Min |